Troy gym teacher pay trumps nationally recognized science teacher

A middle school gym teacher makes $99,528 a year in the Troy Public Schools. An elementary school gym teacher makes $97,108. Both made more than the district’s recently honored national teacher of the year in science, who earns $92,264.

Seven gym teachers in the district make more money than Rebecca Brewer, an AP biology teacher honored by the Troy school board this week for being selected as a national teacher of the year. Brewer implemented a program that simulates mock surgeries for her Troy High students and was selected as the ING national Innovative Teacher of the Year, according to the district.

Public school districts use a single-pay scale system that pays teachers based on seniority and education level.

Nine of the 27 full-time gym teachers in the district make $90,000 or more a year, according to a Freedom of Information Act request.

The elementary school gym teacher making $97,108 makes about $23,000 a year more than Terri McCormick, a Smith Middle School teacher who was honored through the Teacher of the Year program in 2010.

Michael Van Beek, education policy director at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, said if schools want to attract and retain quality teachers, they should pay them a competitive wage based on their market value.

“The single-salary structure is based on seniority and educational degree, regardless of their subject area and how well their students perform,” Van Beek said. “This school district has made the decision that gym teachers are just as valuable as science teachers.”